Few players have waited as long as Jamie Donaldson did for their first European Tour win - and even fewer have achieved it after being told their career could be over.

Macclesfield-based Welshman Donaldson’s brilliant four-stroke victory in the Irish Open at Royal Portrush at the weekend came in his 255th Tour event and 12 years after he turned professional.

Coming as it did on the first occasion the tournament has been staged in Northern Ireland since 1953 was always going to make it special, even more so given the record crowds and on a course Donaldson rates the best he has ever played.

But the extra element to the 36-year-old’s success was that he has fought a long battle with a genetic spinal condition which looked as if it might force him to give up the game.

"I was told to stop playing and had a year out, but eventually I went to see Jon Bowskill, a spine rehabilitation expert, and he’s been fantastic with me.

"He said the condition could be managed if I developed some core stability. I get lots of physiotherapy and do a lot of work to take strain off the lower back.

"I had to go back to the qualifying school in 2006 and I lost my way for a bit I suppose.

"Doubts creep in about whether you’re ever going to win but it was just a case of keeping going. I knew what I was doing was right."

Donaldson finally tasted victory after 32 top-10 finishes and did it with a real flourish against a field that included Irish heroes Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke.

He birdied five of the last seven holes for a superb 66 that was only one off the low round of the week.

Once ahead overnight, he chose not to look at leaderboards and so had no idea that Mikael Lundberg had gone two in front by playing the first 10 holes in a spectacular eight under par from six behind.

However, the Swede then bogeyed the 16th and 18th and when Donaldson reached the final tee and asked his caddie Mick Donaghy – new on the bag – what the position was the answer was that he was two clear of playing partner Anthony Wall.

The Londoner then bogeyed the hole to fall alongside Spaniard Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti and Donaldson's 25-foot birdie putt was just the icing on the cake.

The amazing part about his switch of caddie was that it followed a round of 62 at Sunningdale last Monday that qualified him for the coming Open Championship.

He and James Baker had been together for five years and Donaldson explained: "Sometimes it’s just time for a change.

"It was a mutual agreement and we’re still great mates. I think he must be happy to see me win."

The victory came before he and Donaghy had even discussed fees.

"That should be interesting," he added after being handed a cheque for over £267,000.

Donaldson played with Luke Donald and Paul Casey when Britain and Ireland finished second in the world amateur team championship in 2000 and has seen them reach first and third in the world.